Ron Paul: Secession Is an American Principle

Ron Paul: This weekend I got a couple of calls from the media asking me questions about Rick Perry, our governor here in Texas and the statements he made about possible secession. Now, he didn’t call for secession, but he was restating a principle that was long held and at least in the original time of our country, and that is that there was a right to secession.

Actually, after the Civil War, nobody believes there is a so-called right to secession, but it is a very legitimate issue to debate because all of the states that came into the Union before the Civil War believed they have a right to secede and New England in the early part of the 19th century actually considered it, and nobody questioned them about whether they had the right to do it or not.

Since the Civil War, it’s been sort of a dead issue, but he brought it up. It stirred the media and believe me, it really stirred some of the liberal media where they started really screaming about what is going on here. “This is un-American”, I heard one individual say, “This is treasonous to even talk about it.”

Well, they don’t know their history very well because if they think about it, it’s an American tradition. It’s very American to talk about secession. That’s how we came into being. Thirteen colonies seceded from the British and established a new country, so secession is very much an American principle.

What about all the strong endorsements we have given over the past decade or two of those republics that seceded from the Soviet system? We were delighted with this. We never said, “Oh no. Secession is treasonous”.

No. Secession is a good principle. Just think of the benefits that would have come over these last 230-some years if the principle of secession had existed. That means the federal government would always have been restrained, not to overburden the states with too much federalism, too many federal rules and regulations.

But since that was all wiped out with the Civil War, the federal government has grown by leaps and bounds and we have suffered the consequences, and we need to reconsider this. It’s not un-American to think about the possibility of secession. This is something that’s voluntary. We came together voluntarily. A free society means you can dissolve it voluntarily. That was the whole issue was about.

Just remember one of the reasons that Wilson drove us in unnecessarily into World War I. He talked about what we have to give, have every country in the world the benefit of self-determination, a good principle. Of course, I don’t think he really believed that. But self-determination is a good principle. It’s a very American principle, so to me it’s a shame that we can’t discuss this.

You know, it’s interesting that so many of us have been taught for so many years, and as long as I can remember from the first grade on up taking the pledge of allegiance that we have a republic that’s “indivisible” and we have been preached that and preached it. So therefore, there is no contest, no question since the Civil War that we have even the thought that this could happen.

But you know what a lot of people don’t talk about and they really don’t even know about is who wrote the pledge to the flag. The pledge to the flag came from, for instance, Bellamy, an avowed Socialist who wanted to put into concrete in the pledge this principle of being indivisible, and he did it, you know, for the celebration ironically 400 years of the celebration of the landing of Christopher Columbus, so it was in 1892.

I mean, the pledge of allegiance has not been here, you know, all our history. So I think it’s worth of discussion. I think people should discuss this because right now, the American people are sick and tired of it all and I think the time will come when people will consider it much more seriously is when the federal government can no longer deliver. That time will come when the dollar collapses.

No matter what they do and how many promises they have and how many bailouts they have, they can’t do it if the money doesn’t work. So then, the independence of the states will come back and it doesn’t mean that you’ll be un-American to even contemplate what might have to be done once the dollar crashes.

While this video was originally recorded on 4/19/2009, Ron Paul spokeswoman Rachel Mills confirmed earlier today (11/13/2012) that Ron Paul “feels the same now” about secession as he did in this video.

I accept that neither of these petitions mean a damn thing. However, if these asshats want america to know how much they disapprove and want to leave, the rest of us will be sure to let them know how many of us don’t want them here either. Even if the majority of us gave a damn and signed the petition to revoke their citizen status, the rights of the minority are protected against a majority vote. Still the secessionists won’t ever recognize that, nor appreciate that.

However, I see that corporations now seem to be free to use eminent domain to take land away from individuals. Also mineral rights often take away the rights of the landowners to stop mining or drilling on their property.

Who is ad hominem and why is he complaining? Seriously, though, you seem to think you have grand solutions to the world’s economic problems. Whatever you bring up seems to give very short shrift to the pressing problems of how some people can get through the next week or next month. Sort of like if some aliens orbited earth from 100 miles up and thought: “Oh, what a beautiful, peaceful world! We should settle here.” People like you scare the h___ out of us who have served our country.

So if you have an Assault Rifle right now you are going to commit mass murders? When drugs become legal you are going to run out and do some heroin and cocaine right? You don’t won’t a meth driver on the road but you are ok with a Drunk driver on the road? Using your argument Alcohol should be illegal as well. Alcohol prohibition sounds like a great idea!

2. I sure as hell wouldn’t be comfortable driving on the road with people doing meth. You can’t say one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs in the world wouldnt increase in usage if legalized. Dealers could just transport it across statelines and WAMMO good old fashioned street meth is back in popularity. If it ain’t natural, I don’t support it. Look at what happened when bath salts and k2 were legal, people were fucking cannabalized! You still think those should be legal??

1. the constitution is open to interpretion and we are living in a different time faced with different problems. the founding fathes were smart, reasonable men and never had to deal with drug epidemics or people who commit mass murders with assault rifles. Ron Paul is arguing for a system that would never work in today’s society. Paul supporters can be as informed of history as they want, but that means nothing to people who cant find a job or afford healthcare.

First of all, Ron Paul supporters are probably more informed than Romnay and Obama supports as a whole, so this idea of “paultards” is amusing. Second of all, when did following the constitution mean one was crazy? Third of all, Paul never said he wants to legalize heroine/meth; he said he would leave it up to the states to decide. Get your facts straight. And lastly, if meth were legalized, would you start doing it? Do you really need the government to tell you what’s a bad idea?

Oh shut up. Why are you paultards so condescending? I bet you don’t even know half the crazy shit Ron Paul supports. Just because most Americans dont want to vote in someone who thinks legalizing heroin/meth is ok does NOT make them the same as a hitler supporter.

The only real “treason” is rejecting the right of self-determination as defined in the Declaration of Independence which is the secessionist document upon which this country was founded. What Ron Paul is espousing is the most patriotic American principle there is. What I see from the detractors is pure totalitarian stupidity. It proves why men like Stalin and Hitler were successful, because brutal, hate-filled, contemptuous idiots like them enthusiastically supported those murderers.

I think we should let all who want to leave go…they can all go live in the free country of Texas. I’d be willing to let that state leave. Of course I DO NOT want the still powerful USA to send troops to defend it from all the Mexican Drug Cartels as they start to take over the former state that just couldn’t deal with the 21st century. Bye Y’all!

Separation is diversity and diversity is a natural result of freedom. It’s not a matter of States separating though – not these days. The dominant political forces in the south have no more concern for Liberty than do people in the north. They likely would create some kind of theocracy.

People are not educated in freedom. They live on mortgages and credit cards and take no responsibility for what this country has become. The Liberty movement is very small indeed.

9:14 am: "ooo wow nice attempt at a ad hom! Did the reds steal the election from you? Where is McCarthy when you need him? Am I right?" - JBrown

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